I tried Flats but changed them after 2 days

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Did you find the TIs lower tension than the LTFs? I really like the sound and feel of the TIs, but, as I said before, I play a bit harder, live, and found them to loose, but I guess it’s down to technique. I find that some strings suit different basses than others, my Precision sounds best with LaBellas 760FL, whereas the TIs or LTFs are more suited to my active Sadowsky and Warwick. Perhaps the clarity of the TIs works well with active basses?

Anyway, I agree that strings can make a major difference to the feel and sound of a bass, and for me it’s been worthwhile investment.

Well, my experience with the LTF-4A was this: bought two packs from Muziker.de; one had a likely defective “A” string which could not be installed without slipping several times on the peg, and ultimately snapped when tuning it quickly after a truss-rod adjustment (no strength reserve at all).
The second set was ok; this is the only model of LaBella I tried (planning to buy a set of long-scale Deep Talking Bass in the near future); they are by far the smoothest feeling flats I’ve tried and are definitely thumpy flatwound strings.
Their tension is similar to that of the D’Addario Chromes, probably a bit less; the tone is darker.
I’ve personally found that the low tension of the TI JF-344 strings is suitable for the typical cross-sectional dimensions of a J-bass neck; in terms of tone, they have more grit and that’s why I like them.
In Europe, we generally pay everything we import from the USA much more than if the same stuff was bought in the USA; this is actually not much due to the requirement of paying the import fees, but to the existence of VAT.
Consequently, when we talk about TI strings, being this one of the few worldwide renown bass-related items made in EU, I’m proud to state that in EU they are not very expensive (about 43€/pack).
LaBella strings, for example, are slightly more expensive than TI’s here; that’s why, on a rational and objective basis, it’s difficult to accept the old adagio according to which TIs are way too much money for the value they provide.
The rest is personal preference and taste, I guess.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Just for bringing some real examples of how TIs sound on a P and in a J bass, I’d like to post this quarantune:



The P-bass is a Fender Am. Pro body with J neck and SD SPB-1 pickup.
The J is a stock AO ‘60s J.
TI JF344 on both basses.
You may wish to identify which is which .. to me they sound similar.

 

[byacey]

Well, my experience with the LTF-4A was this: bought two packs from Muziker.de; one had a likely defective “A” string which could not be installed without slipping several times on the peg, and ultimately snapped when tuning it quickly after a truss-rod adjustment (no strength reserve at all).
The second set was ok; this is the only model of LaBella I tried (planning to buy a set of long-scale Deep Talking Bass in the near future); they are by far the smoothest feeling flats I’ve tried and are definitely thumpy flatwound strings.
Their tension is similar to that of the D’Addario Chromes, probably a bit less; the tone is darker.
I’ve personally found that the low tension of the TI JF-344 strings is suitable for the typical cross-sectional dimensions of a J-bass neck; in terms of tone, they have more grit and that’s why I like them.
In Europe, we generally pay everything we import from the USA much more than if the same stuff was bought in the USA; this is actually not much due to the requirement of paying the import fees, but to the existence of VAT.
Consequently, when we talk about TI strings, being this one of the few worldwide renown bass-related items made in EU, I’m proud to state that in EU they are not very expensive (about 43€/pack).
LaBella strings, for example, are slightly more expensive than TI’s here; that’s why, on a rational and objective basis, it’s difficult to accept the old adagio according to which TIs are way too much money for the value they provide.
The rest is personal preference and taste, I guess.

I forget what I paid for mine, I got them from Bass Strings Online; they were a little pricey in Canadian dollars, but from all reports, they last a long, long time.
I'm happy with how they play and feel, so I consider them worth the money.

 

[andysvec]

I have flats on a few basses just for variety, just as I have different basses for variety. I dig the sound, I actually didn't think it would work in a band setting as I wasn't sold just by hearing it in my house practicing but went to a sub classic rock gig with my esp pj bass once with flats on and loved how it sat in the mix. Here's my thread with a video of my bass with TI flats I recently did that are at least about 12yrs old (I said 10yr old in the title but now realize at least 12yrs or older are the TIs on it), still feel and sound great! 10yr old TI flats video

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I have flats on a few basses just for variety, just as I have different basses for variety. I dig the sound, I actually didn't think it would work in a band setting as I wasn't sold just by hearing it in my house practicing but went to a sub classic rock gig with my esp pj bass once with flats on and loved how it sat in the mix. Here's my thread with a video of my bass with TI flats I recently did that are at least about 12yrs old (I said 10yr old in the title but now realize at least 12yrs or older are the TIs on it), still feel and sound great! 10yr old TI flats video

Nice playing; your old TI seem to have even more mids than mine which are a few months old

 

[CallMeAl]

@Thom Fioriglio , how is it going with the flats? It looks like from your intonation question thread, you’re still playing them?

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

@Thom Fioriglio , how is it going with the flats? It looks like from your intonation question thread, you’re still playing them?

Hi, thanks for asking. I am giving them another try. I am home all summer waiting for September so gives me something to play around with. Just got curious again and I had them and wanted to tinker. This time doing a proper set up with them. I found I can play with a lighter touch and I do like the tone.

Thom

 

[EchoEcho]

When I first got my fretless I ordered some flats, but they didn't feel very uniform with the E string sounding very noticeably more dull. I liked the lower amount of string noise that is due to my poor technique, but the advantages ended there for me.

The slipping and sliding and vibrating around the fretboard is not something I plan to do in the foreseeable future, so the fretless now has rounds on them.

I think I prefer the sound of rounds and the slightly lower tension.

 

[CallMeAl]

Hi, thanks for asking. I am giving them another try. I am home all summer waiting for September so gives me something to play around with. Just got curious again and I had them and wanted to tinker. This time doing a proper set up with them. I found I can play with a lighter touch and I do like the tone.

Thom

It’s funny, cause I totally gave up on mine! They were fun for quarantine, but once I started going back to (outdoor) rehearsals I took the flat-strung bass out one time and that was the end for me. Rounds just sound “right,” but the biggest factor was the flats were really wearing on/irritating my plucking fingers.

good luck with them!

 

[hbarcat]

Repeat for emphasis what has already been said here.

1) It takes several months of playing to get flats to age into their proper tone. Before that, they sound harsh and "clacky". LaBella 760FS Deep Talkin' flats start out particularly tinny but eventually mellow out to a luxuriously warm tone.

2) They need to be EQed differently than rounds in order to sound good. Really take the time to experiment with EQ settings in a live playing environment.

3) Different brands and versions sound different. I've used about a dozen varieties of flats and really like some and dislike others. The Rotosound SH77 flats sound good to my ears, compared to other sets of flats, when used with more aggressive styles of music because of their brightness and articulation. Other music styles would benefit from different string choices.

4) If you've given 1 through 3 a fair shake and still don't like them, then I guess flats really aren't your thing. I admit that I don't use flatwounds anymore, but that's because I currently only have 2 working basses (main bass plus backup) and I want rounds on both of them. If I had a 3rd bass that was in my regular tool kit, I'd put flats on it. But I don't.

 

[Benj-jammin]

I tried some of the Rotosound flats on a Precision last year - just always wanted to try them. They actually weren't half bad, especially when fussing with the EQ, etc. But the tension was so high and strong, just couldn't get used to it, so I went back to my trusty D'Addario XL 170's. I think I missed the overall balance, punch and the easy bending of the 170's. But yeah, all personal preference.

 

[Stinga1990]

I only use flats now. I currently have chromes on a Cort B5 equipped with EMG JXs. I only use the bridge pickup (I was using rounds for a while and used the neck pickup then). They standout and cut much better then rounds did, as they simply sound nothing like a guitar. I use effects like chorus and drive, and utilitize chords and octaves in my playing and in a band with two guitars it all cuts through. Rolling off the tone with rounds doesn't get you anywhere near the focused timbre of flats. I find the 60s jazz bridge position to be the true sweet spot for flats, as it brings the overtones out more while still having enough bottom to support the band and signal to drive preamps and effects. Much more balanced sound and very responsive to hand position. I can go from a supportive sound that resembles neck pickup wit rounds by playing over the neck, to a modern growly punch by playing over the bridge. Flats with neck pickup is overrated, too much fundimemtal and low mid, not enough everything else.

 

[flatrat]

I only use flats now.

Same here. A few years ago, I picked up a friends bass at a jam and he had flats on it. I loved the feel and sound immediately. Switched to flats on all my basses and am sticking with them. I don't slap/pop.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I had the reverse experience. While I have no issue with roundwounds on guitar, i don't like them at all on bass. It was like a lightbulb went on the first time I played flats. They feel right, they sound right, and I've never gone back to rounds.